L239

[NCE12940]

As usual I can't figure out how to add these guys to My Fish... Anyway, received yesterday from Freshwater Exotics, 2 M, 2 F

(The white spots are air bubbles, fish is under AquaClear HOB.)

[MrRRunner]

Very nice, I have 4 of these myself, one of my favourite pleco's, although mine are always hiding

[NCE12940]

These guys have pretty much staked out their little territories and aren't quite as visible. But the tank is set up so that I can at least find where they're hiding

[alleykat]

nice, what size are they?

[NCE12940]

They're 3-4" TL. They've decided to all hang out at one end of the tank where it's easiest for me to see them. (I'm sure this isn't for my convenience but rather some criteria of their own )

[alleykat]

that's not bad
I find them to be a bit skittish, so having them in plain view is nice! a.nd 3-4" is a good size to buy them. Mine came between 1.5 and 3 inches, so the little ones have some catching up to do;-)

[NCE12940]

Now that they've decided on territories they're not as visible, though easy to find. One is a piggy and as soon as the blue/moon lights are on he's on the food and nobody else is allowed near until he's finished.

[alleykat]

Same here, I have 2 adults and 8 younger ones, and the two big ones are fiercely territorial with the food. I am feeding in several places across the tank, so each gets their share. Interesting comment, I posted a thread a while back about moonlighting. Are your l239's more visible with those lights on?

[NCE12940]

They are more visible with the moonlights, though still pretty reclusive. The piggy eats his(?) fill and then dashes back to his cave. I make sure there's enough food for all of them and since piggy doesn't eat it all and doesn't guard it, there's enough for everybody. (I have 3 baby BNs with them as catfish-dither-fish.)

[alleykat]

I am strongly considering taking out my shoal of C. Sterbai, at least untill the younger ones grow a bit. Right now I see they all eat, but I'm not too happy about it, as I feel the l239's are more likely getting the scraps instead of some big meals.. Did you have any trouble acclimatizing them?

[NCE12940]

Mine seem to have acclimatized quite well. They're not showing any stress coloration and have staked out caves / territories. Though they're not out and about during the day I can easily find them and see how they're doing. They are eating Repashy gell foods and also fresh vegetables. They seemed to really like red bell pepper - last night's food. I have seen one female try to get in a cave with a male but he was having none of it.

[NCE12940]

Surprisingly one of the males was out and about yesterday with the lights on - busy suckering rocks and plants. One of the females hangs out under driftwood and likes to sleep on her back so I think she's dead

[alleykat]

yeah they do that occasionally.. freaks me out as well but no problem normally
good to hear they are doing fine!

[NCE12940]

One particular male (Sanou) now always comes out to eat when the lights are on. There's a juvenile BN who gets very perturbed and vibrates his fins at Sanou, who ignores him and continues to eat. (The BN is going to the LFS tomorrow!) But the sleeping one is really quite grotesque, as well as looking dead.